ST. CLAIRSVILLE – The Belmont County Health Department on Monday reported the death of a hospitalized patient who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The patient was a 92-year-old man who had underlying health conditions.

“On behalf of the entire county, we express our deepest sympathies for the family and friends of the patient who died,” Deputy Health Commissioner Robert Sproul said. “We also extend our sympathies to the other Ohioans battling this illness and the families of everyone affected by this pandemic.”

Sproul said to protect the patient’s privacy, no identifiable information will be released. He said as of Monday morning, Belmont County has has 23 active cases of COVID-19, with three people hospitalized. They include a married man and woman in their 80s and a more recently hospitalized individual. The health department reminds the public to adhere to social distancing and other protective measures, such as frequent handwashing.